“Hey, y’all!”

Embracing her southern roots, Carrie Hill welcomed the attendees of the Impact DEN Event on March 19 at UVU. Carrie delivered a powerful and inspiring presentation focused on how resilience, adaptability, and leveraging personal strengths can help individuals create fulfilling careers, even in the face of setbacks. Whether you were in attendance or missed the event, here are some of the key takeaways from Carrie’s message.

What is your definition of resilience?

Carrie challenged the audience to define resilience in their own terms, emphasizing that it is not just about being tough or pushing through hardships. Instead, resilience is about adapting, learning, and thriving despite challenges. It’s about taking life’s detours and turning them into opportunities for growth.

Recognizing your own strengths in resilience 

One of the most empowering parts of her presentation was the reminder that resilience is already within us. She encouraged attendees to reflect on past challenges and recognize the ways they have already demonstrated resilience. By acknowledging these strengths, individuals can build confidence in their ability to navigate future obstacles. You develop resilience with practice rather than avoidance. If you are in resistance, you cannot be resilient.

Career resilience: thriving beyond technical expertise

Carrie emphasized the importance of soft skills—like communication, adaptability, and problem-solving—when building a career. A key takeaway was the idea that many careers are built on soft skills rather than just technical know-how.

She highlighted real-world examples of professionals who have built impactful careers by leveraging their ability to network, negotiate, and inspire. She urged attendees to recognize that success is often about how well you pivot, adapt, and bring value in new ways.

Employees can expect that 2/5 of their existing skill sets will be transformed or become outdated between now and 2030, the Future of Jobs Report says. This will require a significant amount of upskilling and reskilling. For those feeling unsure about their qualifications, she reassured them that their interpersonal skills and experiences are valuable assets for career resilience.

Facing rejection, overcoming hardships, and finding a way forward

Carrie shared deeply personal stories of applying for jobs, facing rejection, and even experiencing financial hardship, including a period of living on welfare. These moments of struggle shaped her resilience and ultimately led her to where she is today. Her message was clear: rejection is not a reflection of your worth—it’s a redirection to something greater.

Resilience is not just “nose to the grindstone”

She challenged the common notion that resilience means simply working harder or enduring more stress. Instead, she reframed it as the ability to pause, reflect, and take intentional action. Sometimes, resilience means knowing when to step back, regroup, and redefine success on your own terms.

Resilience is found in the moments that make us

Carrie ended with a powerful reflection:

"One year from now, I want to be able to look back at my life and say, ‘You believed in yourself and it worked.’"

 

This closing sentiment captured the essence of her talk: Resilience is about believing in your ability to navigate uncertainty, trusting the process, and knowing that every small step forward matters.

Final thoughts

Carrie Hill’s presentation left attendees feeling inspired and empowered. Her journey is proof that setbacks don’t define us—our response to them does. Whether you are a student, a professional navigating career transitions, or someone looking to redefine success, her message remains clear: Own your story. Leverage your strengths. Trust your journey. Resilience is not just about surviving—it’s about thriving.